Hotels or motels.....what's your opinion on the safest

This is a discussion on Hotels or motels.....what's your opinion on the safest within the Home (And Away From Home) Defense Discussion forums, part of the Related Topics category; I've stayed at both, plenty of times. Both have their own distinctive advantages and disadvantages.
Let's avoid room rates, reservations, room service, clean pool, bed ...

Turn the election's in 2014 to a "2A Revolution". It will serve as a 1994 refresher not to "infringe" on our Second Amendment. We know who they are now.........SEND 'EM HOME. Our success in this will be proportional to how hard we work to make it happen.

I spend allot of time behind the scenes at hotels in my employment. I will tell you that most good hotels (the down town type) have actual trained security people. These security folks range from mall ninjas to the no nonsense skull crackers. I dont know of too many motels that have full time trained people watching the rif raff and keeping an eye on the security cameras.

Hotels...motels......they're a home away from home. When I'm away from home, I'm my own security. I'm the best at doing that, and I won't depend on anyone else to do it for me. I pretty much don't sleep at all on the road living out of a hotel or motel. There's no place like home if you absolutely have to close your eyes.

I used to do motels so that I'd have a ground-floor room to park my motorcycle in, so that it wouldn't get stolen. One night the police raided the room next to me, and I decided that the motorcycle wasn't worth my life...

Now I build up points on a Marriott VISA and stay for free at fine hotels with good security (the motorcycle gets chained to a post outside and has to fend for itself).

Over the past 10 years I've traveled a lot on business. Due to the business aspect and not having CCWs for most of the states in which I do business, I rarely carried a firearm on travel. A couple of good folding knives and a Surefire were the primary weapons.

The very worst situation was when I had a room on the ground floor, with a sliding door that opened up close to the pool. A guy slid my door open and entered my room, but I was dozing on the bed and yelled (screamed) when I saw him and he left post-haste. I rarely took a ground-floor room after that.

As a result, I always ask for a room above ground floors. Beyond that, rooms above the 10th to 12 floors are inaccessible to the highest fire ladders.

In your room, when you retire for the night put your keys, wallet, knife, flashlight and gun (if you have one) in or next to your shoes, next to your bed. If you have to get up because of fire or an intrusion, your 'stuff' is all there.

You have no choice as to housekeeping employees, but I've never had a problem with them. Parking lots, stairwells - you're on your own. Let your SA guide you, and always opt on the side of personal safety.

In your room, when you retire for the night put your keys, wallet, knife, flashlight and gun (if you have one) in or next to your shoes, next to your bed. If you have to get up because of fire or an intrusion, your 'stuff' is all there.

Good tip about your stuff and the flashlight is ultra-important too.

Originally Posted by gasmitty

You have no choice as to housekeeping employees, but I've never had a problem with them. Parking lots, stairwells - you're on your own. Let your SA guide you, and always opt on the side of personal safety.

I was wondering how well they were screened. Good grief these are people who tend to have a master key and clean your room while you're gone. Worst yet is one who has a thug boyfriend and covertly aides him to rob someone or a room. You are right you don't have much choices.

Turn the election's in 2014 to a "2A Revolution". It will serve as a 1994 refresher not to "infringe" on our Second Amendment. We know who they are now.........SEND 'EM HOME. Our success in this will be proportional to how hard we work to make it happen.

I was wondering how well they were screened. Good grief these are people who tend to have a master key and clean your room while you're gone. Worst yet is one who has a thug boyfriend and covertly aides him to rob someone or a room. You are right you don't have much choices.

When I was at a Pat Rogers (EAG Tactical) training a couple of years ago, two students (principals in a well-known tactical equipment company) were staying at a Motel 6. One of them had a crack whore enter his room after midnight, having apparently gotten a pass card from the boyfriend night clerk. Being this was in AZ and our fellow student had some pretty good tactical awareness, the sleazebag 'ho' wound up with a Condition One .45 aimed at her when the lights came on. She nonetheless proceeded to demand money from HIM. The local gendarmes were called and the matter was appropriately resolved.

I always toss the "do not disturb" sign on the door and leave the TV on when I'm out and about for the day. This will lead housekeeping to believe the room is occupied and to leave it alone. I'll pick up my own towels and what not at the desk. It seems to work.

When traveling for work, we usually get a "public service" rate. It annoys the crap out of me, because often times when I travel for work, the last thing I want is locals to know who I am. So, I flip the tables slightly. I'll tell the front desk that I have a working dog. They will alert housekeeping that there is a police dog in room 123, and they stay out of there.

I never use the dresser drawers, I keep my stuff in luggage; Its easier to secure and keep track of.

I always try to stay on the second floor; Nobody is coming in from the outside, but I can swan dive out the window if there is a fire or something.

I also never park on the outskirts of a parking lot; those are prime spots for vehicle break ins. I'll try to park as close to the front entrance as possible, no matter where my room happens to be.

I have other tricks that are much more deviant, but I'll save those for later.

Oh yeah.... I'll always pony up a extra few bucks to stay in a nicer joint.

Last time I stayed at a motel we were on a motorcycle trip,and after checking in noticed that we were probably in a less desirable part of town,I literally passed out spare guns to everybody that knew how to use them.I'm betting it wasn't anything close as when Grady hits the road packing

Tactical and stratigic thinking must be applied. Where (the surronding neighborhood) your staying, what precautions you take while staying there, and how you apply yourself to the situation your in all play a part in how safe you'll really be.